Gators HC Jon Sumrall makes key decision with multiple talented coaches that could have a serious impact in 2026

Jon Sumrall continues to build his coaching staff, while choosing to retain one key leader on defense.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Florida Gators assistant coach for defensive line Gerald Chatman participates in a drill with Florida Gators defensive lineman Jamari Lyons (95) during spring football practice at the Sanders Practice Fields
Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall is working hard not just as the lead man in Gainesville, but also leading the Tulane Green Wave in the College Football Playoff. While he’s working both jobs, the process for both is much different.

In New Orleans, Sumrall and his staff are working toward a first-round playoff game against the Ole Miss Rebels, a team they lost to 45-10 back in September. In Gainesville, it’s all about building a coaching staff so they can recruit both high school players and also keep their own players from entering the transfer portal.

Jon Sumrall makes decisions on two pivotal assistant coaches

Earlier on Monday, it was reported that Sumrall was not going to retain interim head coach Billy Gonzales to be his wide receivers coach. It wasn’t unexpected that Gonzales wouldn’t be retained since he was the interim coach, but it is still a tough loss. Gonzales did a great job recruiting and developing the wide receiver position.

Along with Gonzales, Sumrall has chosen to not retain running backs coach Jabbar Juluke. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise, as Juluke was suspended for three games earlier this season for his actions in an incident before the Gators’ Week 3 matchup with the LSU Tigers.

It’s a tough one for the Gators, as Jadan Baugh is arguably the most important player for Sumrall to retain. It may be a little tougher now that Juluke is going to be coaching elsewhere.

He’s not the only one, as offensive line coach Rob Sale won’t be returning either.

Sale is likely to end up going to James Madison, as he’s got a long track record of working with former Gators head coach Billy Napier. He was with Napier at Louisiana-Lafayette and Napier brought him back from the NFL’s New York Giants, where he was the offensive line coach for a year in 2021.

The good news about staff retention comes from the defensive side of the football, as Sumrall is retaining defensive line coach Gerald Chatman.

Upon the news, players took to Twitter to express their excitement that he was returning. The defensive line group took major strides this season, despite having multiple injuries decimate the unit. They lost star defensive tackle Caleb Banks for multiple games, along with numerous other players, including not having four of their top eight players against the Miami Hurricanes.

Chatman landed some top defensive recruits, including four-star edge rusher KJ Ford and four-star defensive tackle Kendall Guervil. It projects to be a strength of the unit overall, and the Gators did a smart thing by keeping Chatman.

There are still multiple other coaching spots to figure out, but those will likely come quickly.

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